Previews

OC Racing

Jaleco tries to prove that size doesn't matter with its upcoming racer.

Racing games that feature miniaturized cars zooming around everyday environments are nothing new. Titles like Micro Machines have sold reasonably well considering their lackluster reviews. For whatever reason, people are fascinated at the prospect of driving around and tearing up bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and the like. Jaleco hopes to up the ante and serve up the best micro racer in town with OC Racing. Though the cars are small, the company hopes that the fun and action will be larger than life.

The build I was shown was very early, and more of a tool for the developer to discuss concepts rather than give an idea of what the product will be like. The physics and handling aren't anywhere near ready, but I was told that the game is going for a Burnout-type feel. The physics will be exaggerated, with a dose of reality thrown in to keep the action from getting out of hand.

Unlike most games of its ilk, OC Racing will feature cars that look cool instead of ones that look like toys. A former automotive designer is designing the models, and the game is an opportunity for his imagination to run wild. The vehicles look like concept cars you'd see at an auto show, which is a nice change from the plastic pieces of crap found in competing titles.

OC Racing is divided up into three Grand Prix circuits, which contain five races each. You simply win one race in order to move onto the next. The environments I saw included Bathroom Bedlam, The Lab (because we all have secret labs in our homes), Kitchen Khaos, and Bedroom Berserker. As expected, the tracks are littered with all sorts of everyday objects, from ketchup bottles, powder, fans, and that brush thingy you clean the toilet with.

As you win each race you're awarded points that you can use to buy parts in the level editor. I was briefly shown the editor and it looked surprisingly robust for this type of game. There's a lot you can construct, and the unique nature of the game's tracks can lead to some imaginative concoctions.

Earning new cars is done in an interesting fashion. Instead of the typical unlock-the-car-as-you-progress system, the tracks in OC Racing are littered with car parts. Some are in plain sight, while others take some exploring to snag. Once you get all the parts for the car, it's available for you to use. It won't be easy getting all the cars, though. Choice rides are particularly challenging to obtain; you'll have to do things like find a key to a secret room, get to the secret room, and discover the location of the elusive car part.

Perhaps the most novel aspect of the game is its power-up system. As seen in many kart games, OC Racing has power-ups that let you zap the opposition and also interact with the environment. They take form in little demonic-looking elves that hang onto your car. The critters come in three varieties: ice, fire, and electric. This adds a rock-paper-scissors aspect to the combat. Furthermore, the power-ups can be stacked, so you can have up to three at any given time.

Even little cars need a wash every now and then.

A nifty side effect of the power-ups is that they let you do some slick things with the environment. For instance, if you're racing in a bedroom and see a desk fan in the distance you should ready your electric power-up. This lets you activate the fan and blow the competition back a few feet (in micro racing, a few feet is huge). A filled kitchen sink screams for you to use the ice power-up. Instead of going around the sink, you can use your ice powers to freeze the water and drive straight through. This is an area of the game that has great potential; combining unique environments with the power-ups can make for some enjoyable strategic racing that's really offbeat.

OC Racing has a lot of things going for it, but also a lot left to prove. The biggest challenge for Blade Interactive is getting down the physics and handling to a Burnout level. If it can do so, it should have a winner. The game's funky environments and novel power-up system will help it stand apart from the crowd. If the cars are fun to drive, this just might be the little racing game that could.